Flourless Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

These gluten-free brown sugar shortbread cookies are buttery with a hint of caramel and cinnamon for an easy treat that everyone will love. 

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Gluten-Free Brown Sugar Shortbread CookiesThese slightly sweet, flourless shortbread cookies use only 4 ingredients and come together in just 15 minutes. Eat them warm or cool, as is, or cut them into shapes and dust with sprinkles or powdered sugar for holiday baking fun.

When coming up with an idea for a Christmas cookie, I immediately started to think of ways to make it healthy. I mean, that’s what I do for a living. The idea of a healthy cookie is an oxymoron if ever there was one. However, there are a few ways to create a “healthier” cookie. If you care to hear about this during the holiday season, read on. If not, skip on down to the recipe because these brown sugar shortbread beauties are tasty no matter how you slice ’em!

Ways to make a healthy or healthier cookie:

  1. Go all the way with a whole grain or no grain, no-sugar added, free from all the things cookie.
  2. Take a traditional cookie recipe and reduce the sugar and butter and or swap in a whole grain or nut flour.
  3. Make a traditional cookie in mini form – and vow to eat less of them.

Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies

With this recipe, I used a combination. These cookies are only two bites each, use real (good) butter and almond flour as the base. The almond flour adds a boost of nutrition (protein + fiber) that you just won’t get from regular flour. Plus, it lets you swap some of the butterfat for healthy fats in almonds. The cookies are surprisingly tender and tasty with only a handful of ingredients and a few minutes prep.

NOTE: You must use almond flour – not almond meal – for this recipe to work. Almond meal is too coarse to hold the cookies together. Here’s the easy recipe for you to try.

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5 from 6 votes

Flourless Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

Made with almond flour, these gluten-free brown sugar shortbread cookies are buttery with a hint of caramel and cinnamon for an easy and fun cookie that your guests will love. 
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Chill Time30 mins
Total Time15 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: almond flour cookies
Servings: 10 (2 cookies each)
Calories: 108kcal
Author: Marisa Moore

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 3 tbsp good quality butter, softened
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon sugar (optional for garnish)

Instructions

  • Add the almond flour, butter, brown sugar and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula (or clean hands), knead the mixture until a moldable dough forms. 
  • Place it on a piece of plastic wrap and roll into a tube shape about 2 inches in diameter. Refrigerate the dough up to 30 minutes, if needed.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Slice the cookies into ¼ inch rounds and place on the baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
    OPTIONAL: Sprinkle each cookie with extra brown sugar or cinnamon sugar for a festive touch.
  • Bake the cookies 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven. When done, the cookies will be golden brown on the bottom and lightly browned on top. Remove from the oven and cool on the pan about 10 minutes to allow the cookies to set. Place on a wire rack to completely cool before storing. 

Video

Notes

TIP: You must use almond flour - not almond meal - for this recipe to work. Almond meal is too coarse and the cookies will likely crumble.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Flourless Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

26 Comments on Flourless Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

    • Marisa
      December 1, 2017 at 4:38 PM (2 years ago)
      Thank you, Silvia!! Reply
  2. Erin @ The Speckled Palate
    December 2, 2017 at 9:15 PM (2 years ago)
    These shortbread cookies just look and sound divine, Marisa! And the photos are GORGEOUS. I love the idea of making a cookie recipe a little "healthier" and making them smaller. Good ideas!Thanks so much for participating in this year's Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange! This has been so much fun and seeing so many gorgeous cookies has me excited for ALL THE BAKING this year! Reply
  3. Julie
    December 3, 2017 at 3:08 PM (2 years ago)
    I love how simple these are - so few ingredients, but such a great flavor. Brown sugar cookies are so delicious! Reply
    • Marisa
      December 4, 2017 at 1:41 PM (2 years ago)
      Thank you, Julie! The simplicity makes this one of my keeper, go to recipes for sure! Reply
  4. Kayechamp
    December 4, 2017 at 1:29 PM (2 years ago)
    Could I use just whole wheat flour instead of almond flour? My son has a nut allergy. Reply
    • Marisa
      December 4, 2017 at 1:41 PM (2 years ago)
      Hi! Thanks for stopping by. I haven't tried this recipe with whole wheat flour so can't say. It may work but you'll likely need to add baking powder and may need to adjust the butter since the almond flour contributes some fat. (I think it would be a different recipe) In any case, I'd suggest using a whole wheat pastry flour so the shortbread is not too heavy or dense. Reply
  5. Meredith
    December 4, 2017 at 9:54 PM (2 years ago)
    These cookies look delicious! Definitely pinning to try soon... Reply
    • Marisa
      December 4, 2017 at 10:43 PM (2 years ago)
      Thank you! Please let me know if you make them! Reply
  6. LeAndra
    December 10, 2017 at 10:03 AM (2 years ago)
    These sound really good. I've only baked with almond flour once, but I'm saving this idea for the next time! Reply
    • Marisa
      December 10, 2017 at 10:18 AM (2 years ago)
      I have a huge bag that I’m working through. It’s actually quite versatile and tasty! Reply
  7. Valentina
    December 3, 2018 at 4:01 PM (9 months ago)
    4 ingredients and 15 minutes. Awesome! My son is GF so I'm always interested in flourless baked goods. These sound divine!

    Reply
    • Marisa
      December 3, 2018 at 8:18 PM (9 months ago)
      Definitely, give these a try. I was surprised by how tender they bake up! Reply
  8. Jacque Hastert
    December 3, 2018 at 5:27 PM (9 months ago)
    These would make a great cookie to hand out to the neighbors!

    Reply
    • Marisa
      December 3, 2018 at 8:17 PM (9 months ago)
      I agree! They are so easy to make that you can spend time decorating if that's your sort of thing! Reply
  9. Alina | Cooking Journey Blog
    December 3, 2018 at 5:28 PM (9 months ago)
    These look gorgeous! Next time I need almond cookie recipe, I will definitely try yours!

    Reply
    • Marisa
      December 3, 2018 at 8:17 PM (9 months ago)
      Definitely give them a try but these don't have a pronounced almond flavor - though you'd expect them to. Using blanched almond flour helps. They taste a lot like a caramel-flavored shortbread. Reply
  10. Tayler Ross
    December 3, 2018 at 5:46 PM (9 months ago)
    This is such a simple and delicious cookie to add to my Christmas cookie trays!

    Reply
  11. Tisha
    December 3, 2018 at 7:26 PM (9 months ago)
    I'm loving how easy these are!!!

    Reply
  12. Sherry Speaks
    August 5, 2019 at 9:02 PM (2 weeks ago)
    How many carbs per serving? Reply
    • Marisa
      August 6, 2019 at 10:12 AM (2 weeks ago)
      Hi Sherry. There are 6g carbs per serving. Enjoy! Reply

5Pingbacks & Trackbacks on Flourless Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

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    December 15, 2017 at 12:26 PM
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    December 16, 2017 at 7:00 AM
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